Device and process for automatically removing water from gas-wells



F. B. ALLDREDGE. DEVICE AND PROCESS FOR AUTOMATICALLY REMOVING WATER FROM GAS WELLS.

\ APPLICATION FILED JULY 2919201 Patented May 10, 1921.

[72 we flfZO fi Zea/01 6516.

dirt, I!!! a! ears FRANCIS B. ALLDREDGE, OF DES MOINES, IOWA.

refrain.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 11), 1921..

Application filed July 29, 1920. Serial No. 399,650.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS B. ALLDREDGE,

a citizen of the United States, and a residentv gas. A further object is to provide such a device including a structure, which may be made standard and which can be readily and easily adjusted for use in wells, where there is a variation in pressure from time to time and for use in different wells where the pressure is difierent.

Still. a further object is'to provide in sucha device a convenient means for fastening together two strings of pipes for lowering them or raising them from the well together.

With these and other objects in'view, my invention consists in pract1sing the process, hereinafter more fully set forth, and in the construction and arrangement of the various parts of my device, as illustrated in the accompanying drawlngs, in which:

Figure 1 shows a vertical, central, s eetional view through ,a gas well equipped with a device embodying my invention, and" adapted for use in practising my process.

Fig. 2 shows an enlarged, vertical, sectional view of the device used in connection with water drains for counteracting the pressure of the gas.

Fig. 3 shows a side elevation of two strings 'of pipe, illustrating the method of connecting the same together; and

Fig. 4 shows a detail, sectional view taken on the line4--4 of Fig. 3.

The difficulties which are encountered in removing water from gas wells are well known. The removal of the water by methods now in use isexpensive and uncertain resulting in a considerable loss of the gas, and sometimes in the destruction or injury of the well.

In my drawings, 1 have used the reference numeral 10 to indicate generally the ground in which the well is located. In the ground 10 is the well or hole in which is received the ordinary casing 11. Received in the casing and projecting downwardly below the casing is a tube or pipe 12 which is preferably of considerably lesser diameter than the casing. At the lower end of the casing there is provided a packer around the tube 12 for closing the passage in the casing at the lower end thereof around said tube.

Extending downwardly through the tube 12 is a gas take-off pipe 15, which takes in the gas and water at its lower end.

At the upper end of the pipe 15 is a controlling valve 16. A pipe 17 leads from the valve 16 to a separating receptacle 18 and enters said tank at a point above the bottom thereof.

Communicating with the upper part of the receptacle 18 and leading therefrom is a gas take-off pipe 19. Leading from the lowerpart of the receptacle 18 is a pipe 20 with which is connected a pipe 21 extending downwardly into the well. At its lower end the pipe 21 is bent at 22 and extended upwardly at 23/ V I have found it most convenient in practice to use a pipe 21 with a return bend, in which case the pipe sections 21 and 22 are arranged quite close together. In lowering the pipe into the well only one string of the pipe is supported by the elevator. Where considerable length of pipe is being lowered, it is sometimes found that the other string breaks off. In order. to avoid this, I have provided means for connecting together thetwo strings of pipe at suitable intervals, preferably at the joints between sections of -different strings. 1

For instance, I have shown in Fig. 3, the strings 21 and 23 of two sections A and B, each connected with an ordinary coupling, C. On each coupling C is a laterally extending lug 21 having a corrugated face. The lugs 21 are each provided with one of a plurality of vertically, alined, elongated slots 21".

Leading away from the upper end of the pipe 23 1s ,a water discharge'pipe 24. It be seen that the pipes 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24 may be considered as a single water discharge pipe.

Connected with the pipe 24 is an upwardly extending pipe section 25, which may also be considered a part of said general discharge pipe At the upper end of the well is a closure member 26 through which the various pipes extend, and by which the upper endof the casing is closed.

On the upper end of the pipe 25, I preferably mount a removable cap 27 in which is a hole 28 of the proper size.

Extending downwardly over the upper end of the pipe 25 is a pipe 28 of considerably. larger diameter than the pipe 25, having at its upper end a removable cap 29, having a suitable lining or gasket 30 of rubber, cork or any suitable material.

On the lower part of the pipe 28 is some suitable stop device such, for instance, as

the flange 31. The flange 31 is designed to removably support one or more weights such for instance, as the ring'32.

I will now describe the practical use of my improved device and the steps involyed in the practice of my process.

In installing the water seal pipe, I lower the two strings of pipe together and keepthem connected by means of the lugs 21 already described.

It will be noted that the pipe 13 is open at its lower end, so that gas may pass upwardly into said pipe, which I believe insures a constant and regular pressure against the fluid at the bottom of the well and conduces to the uniform and regular operation of my device.

Whenever the water in the well rises as high as the lower end of the pipe .15, the rush of the upwardly moving gas will draw with it, the water, and keep the water level at the lower end of said pipe. the well free from any undue amount of water, and makes it possible to take from the well at all times its full capacity of gas.

It will be seen that insomuch as the lower end of the casing -11 is closed and the upper end of the well is closed, the pressure of the gas in the well will force the gas upwardly through the pipe 15, and will carry with it considerable water, vapor or mist.

The gas and water will pass into the sep- This keeps arating tank 18, and the water will then drop to the bottom of the tank and pass downwardly into the pipe 20, while the gas maybe removed through the gas take-oil 1 pipe 19.

Assumlng that the discharge end of the pipe 24 is lower than the pipe 17, and that no weight is imposed on the discharge end of the pipe 25, it will be seen that water tending to accumulate inthe tank 18 would be discharged through the pipe 25 on account of the tendency of water to seek its.

level.

It is, of course, well known that the discharge of gas from the well-is caused by ing the equivalent of pressure and head of water, it is easy to determine how far the gas pressure will force the water downwardly in the pipe 21.

It will be seen that by extending the pipe, for the water take-oil, deep enough into'the well, it would be possible to maintain at all times a water seal without in any way retarding the discharge of water from the pipe 25. This, however, might involve extending the water take-ofi pipe a considerable distance into the well,or downwardly below the tank or receptacle 18. In order to avoid the expense and difiiculty involved in putting the water take-off pipe too far down into thewell, I have provided my present 1mprovement.'

In the use of my device, the'pipes 21 and 23 must be practically filled with water be-. fore the flow of gas and water from the well commences. By using the downwardly extending pipe and the upwardly-extending pipe, I have provided a water seal.

on the outflowing water, or retarding such flow. It will be seen that I have provided a sort of valve, and that the pipe 28 must be lifted in order to permit water to flow through the hole 28 and then downwardly between. the pipes 25 and 28.

The effect of the valve device or weight device may be regulated by removing or adding the weight 32, so as to properly counteract, the pressure of the gas in the tank 18 and the pipes 20 and 21, without holding the water back in the tank until it rises too high, and on the other hand without making the retarding device so light as to permit the gas to force the water entirely out of the pipe 21.

It will be seen that with my device, I have simply provided a column of water to overcome or counteract the gas pressure and to provide a water seal for preventing the escape of gas, while permitting the water to flow away.

In my present device, I have reduced the height of the column of water necessary for such purpose, by retarding the outflow of the water by means of the weighted device herein described and shown in Fig. 2.

gas has been taken from the well, carrying with it the water, and forproviding a water seal for preventing th escape of gas, while permitting the escape of water, and involves also the provision of a means for retarding or imposing that pressure on the outfiowing water.

A great many different forms of mechanical structure might be used in the practice of my process without departing from the real principle thereof.

It will be understood that the tank or receptacle 18 must be tall enough, or that a suflicient number of-the tanks properly connected together must be used, to make it possible for the gas to fully separate from the water and to be taken off at a point above the water level.

It will be noted that without any variation in principle, and with very slight change in construction, my invention herein described, may be applied to gas pipe lines. All that is necessary is to connect the pipe 21 or its equivalent with a low place in the pipe line and the liquid will be drainedofi in the way herein described. The device may be adjusted according to the varying pressure in the pipe line by means of the weights already described; a

It should perhaps be noted that my device may be used for taking oil from the well with the gas, just as the water is taken and the water and oil maybe separated after having been taken from the well. The use of my process makes it possible to profitably operate oil and gas wells which heretofore in many cases have been a profitable.

I claim as my invention? 1. The process of automatically removing Water from gas wells, comprisin the taking of gas and water together from 511 separating of the gas from the water, the discharge of the water thus accumulated, through a pipe having a liquid seal, and'the total loss or unimposing of back-pressure'on the discharging water.

2. The process of automatically removing water from a gas well comprising the placing in a well of a pipe for taking off gas, of such size that the pressure of the gas will e Well, the

carry with it water as it accumulates in the lower part of the well, the closing of the well except for such pipe, the conducting of the gas through a separating receptacle, and the 1 connecting of the lower portion of said receptacle with a means including a water seal for discharging water from the receptacle, for thereby permitting the escape of water and preventing the escape of gas through the last means, and the provision oi a back pressure device for the discharging water.

3. The process of automatically removing water from gas wells and separating it from gas, comprising the utilization of the pressure of the gas in the well for forcing water which may accumulate in the well upwardly out of the well, the passing of the gas and water through a separating receptacle,the drawing of the gas from the upper part of said receptacle, and the taking of water from the lower part of said receptacle by forcing said water by means of the pressure of the gas in the receptacle through a water discharge device so arranged as to. maintain a water seal, and imposing back pressure on the discharging water.

4. A device for automatically removing water from gas wells, comprising a pipe for drawing gas and water from a Well, a separating receptacle communicating with said pipe, a gas take-olfpipe leading from the upper part of said receptacle, a water discharge pipe leading from the lower part of saidreceptacle, having a liquid seal, and means for imposing back pressure on the water in said water discharge pipe.

5. A device for automatically removing water from gas wells, comprising a'pipe for removing gas and water from such a well,

'a separating receptacle communicating with said pipe, a water discharge pipe leading from said receptacle, having a portion adapted for forming a water seal, and means for ,imposing back pressure on the water in said water discharge pipe.

' from said receptacle, having a portion adapted for forming a water seal, means for'imposing back pressure on the water 1n said water dischargev pipe,'said means being adjustable for regulating the degree of such back ressure.

7 K device for automatically removing water from gas wells, comprising a pipe for removing gas and .water from such a wellfa separating receptacle communicating with said pipe,,a water. discharge pipe leading from said'receptacle, having a portion adapted for forming a water seal, means for imposing back pressure on the water in said water discharge nine. said means being adjustable for regulating the degree of such back pressure, said means including a valve device adapted to be opened by discharging back pressure.

' 9. The process of automatically removing water from gas wells, comprising the taking of water and gas from a well through a pipe, the discharging of 'said water and gas into a separatingreceptacle, the removal of the gas from the upper part of said receptacle, the connection with the lower part of said receptacle of a pipe having a portion adapted to form a water seal, and the imposing of back pressure on the water in said discharge 1 e. p I0. The process of automatically removing water from gas wells, comprising the taking of water and gas from a well throu h a pipe, the discharging of said water an gas into a separatin receptacle, the removal of the gas from t c upper part of said receptacle, the connection with the lower part of said receptacle of a pipe having a portiOnadapted to form a water seal, and the imposing of back pressure on the water in said discharge pipe, by means of an adjustable device, whereby the degree of such back 7 pressure may be regulated.

and Water from the well, a separating receptacle communicating with said pipe, a gas take-off pipe leading from the upper part of said receptacle, a water take-01f pipe leadin from the lower part of said receptac e, extending downwardly and having a return bend, whereby said last pipe forms a water seal, and means for connecting together the strings of the last-described pipe.

12. In a device for automatically remov ing water from gas wells, comprising the combination of a pipe for taking the gas and water from the well, a separating receptacle communicating with said pipe, a gas takeoff pipe leading'from the upper part of said receptacle, a water take-0E pipe leading from the lower part of said receptacle, extending downwardly and having a return bend, whereby said last pipe forms a water seal, and means for connecting together the strings of the last-described pipe, said means comprising couplings, each having laterally extending lugs provided with elongated slots and bolts extended through the slots of the respective lugs for connecting the couplings and strings ofpipe together.

Des Moines, Iowa, July 21, 1920.

FRANCIS B. ALLDREDGE. 

